Tuesday, October 30, 2012

We've seen the negative effects water can have on people's lives this past 24 hours. Today, the Antlers bring us a few of the positive ones with their new video for "Drift Drive." This slow motion collage of underwater images increases the tranquil and calculated nature of the song and reminds us that the ocean can be a pretty calm place when not stirred up by overly aggressive female hurricanes. Stay safe everybody!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Hello again blogland. Between studying for this graduate exam and my alma mater's homecoming this past weekend, you could say that I have been adequately distracted. All the same, I feel compelled to share this little bit of magic. Check out the above mini-documentary, that essentially plays like a tiny musical coming-of-age story, and I think you will be falling as hard for the three sisters from LA as I am. I have a much greater understanding of their musical beginnings and a new appreciation for Haim's family oriented approach. I mean, they bring their parents on tour! After you've dug deep into that, you've got to check out their new single, "Dont Save Me". Reminiscent of those upbeat 1980's jams that I was not yet alive to appreciate in all of its lived-in glory, I can help but smile. I am desperately hoping for an Nashville drop in. Enjoy and share.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

So my buddy, Diego, another Pittsburgh native, who turned me on to Yury is also a producer/musician himself and his talent can be heard on Eclypse's "The Belgreen Sessions". His producer name is Paco, and his favorite song is 61C, and can be heard below. I would have to say my favorite is "City Steps". The whole mixtape can be found right here. Oh and don't worry, I still hate every Pittsburgh sports team, but I am definitely loving the hip hop scene. But again, sit back, relax, enjoy and chill.

Yury is a lyricist from Pittsburgh and definitely worth a listen. He is from the same high school as Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa [although I feel a bit more soul in his songs]. This is his latest video and the beat is so so nice. Signatune is just a sweet song to hear his flow. Sit back, relax, enjoy and chill.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Sit back and relax. Carey Ott has the easy country rock sound of Tom Petty on lock and a voice not far from Van Morrison's, making this perfect music for all your fall outdoor events. You can cop his new album, Human Heart, here.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

This lady has a nice set of pipes and soul for days. Atlanta friends check her out at Vinyl on November 12th. Nashville Brethren will be at 12th and Porter on November 13th for her set. Also check out Kendrick Lamar on the track below [his new album "good kid, m.A.A.d city" came out yesterday, it's also stellar]. Go on'n'cry boy

Friday, October 19, 2012

Noah "40" Shebib, Drake's in-house producer, has crafted an amazing track, moody and atmospheric yet not lacking any punch thanks to some heavy-hitting drum samples. But a rap song is only as good as its verses, and A$AP, Kendrick, and Drake don't disappoint. Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Here's a little cosmic blues stomp-rock for your Thursday. With a wail reminiscent of Robert Plant, primordial riffs a la early Black Keys, and a look that would fit in at your local biker bar, what's not to love?

Monday, October 15, 2012

Feels Like: Aesop Rock, Yelawolf, Atmosphere
I'm not going to lie to you here. I was completely unaware of El-P and his contributions to the hip-hop movement. Upon further review, El-P has been a massive force in the industry for the last decade. As the cofounder of owner and current CEO of Definitive Jux, El-P has had a major hand to play in the forwarding of Alternative Rap. His label includes, but is not limited to, such artists as Aesop Rock, Murs, and RJD2. Check out this comedic and twisted prequel to "The Full Retard" off of his new album, Cancer 4 Cure.

You ever have a day that everything seems to be going wrong, but it ends up working out perfectly? This past weekend I headed to my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia for a taste of the great fun Brooklyn has to offer. That's right, Brooklyn.

My buddy Chason and I had been meaning to see a Falcons game, and wanted to round out the weekend with our other favorite past-time, going to great concerts. Well first off, this concert is scheduled to start at 7:30, and we live about 4 hours away from Atlanta in the great city of Nashville. Not a problem at all when you get off work at noon to head down. A big problem when Chason gets dragged into a meeting putting us into heading out of Nashville at 3p. We hit plenty of traffic on the ride down too [with rush hour in Chattanooga and Pride Festival happening in Atlanta]. We got to the venue right at 8:30, hopefully in time to catch most of Matt and Kim, already giving up on seeing one of my favorite new bands Oberhofer for the 5th time [yes, I missed all of their Bonnaroo sets].

8:30 on the dot, Oberhofer fires up their amps and lets loose on the crowd. Unrefined, edgy, fun and completely energized, these guys know how to put on a show. Sure, it was not a polished show, but it reminded of the Kooks half a decade ago. Chason had never had an opportunity to really listen to them, but we both agreed, the raw talent and excitement alone kept their show very fun and entertaining. And after touring with Matt and Kim, they will polish up their act and I know these guys will be huge [I mean they already have a spot on T-Mobile commercials]. "We're Oberhofer. That's O. B. E. R. H. O. F. E. R. We love you with a passion. That's Matt, that's Dylan, that's Ben, that's Pete and I'm Brad" [please note they introduced themselves like this twice during the show and never once actually pointed to who was who, which was a bit more charming than it was confusing].

Up next, the show I've been dying to see since freshmen year of college, Matt and Kim. Bumping bassy hip-hop jams and dancing around constantly, while chubby children workout on the big screen behind them, Matt and Kim absolutely kill it. It was so much more fun than I had expected, and I had always heard the best about their shows. About three songs deep they toss 250 flat balloons into the crowd, with the instruction "blow these up, hold onto them, then at the count of 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4 chuck em!" Well, 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4 and confetti blows out, balloons explode into the sky, and a dancey happy rave begins. A few more tracks down and after flirting, joking and just making everyone in the crowd feel like the center of the universe, Kim has a special request. She wants to stand on the hands of everyone in the front and drop it low. Hands are immediately up and ready to hold her as we bump to some more old time hip hop faves. "Good Old-Fashioned Nightmare" fires up and right before the chorus, an ode to "Jump On It" fires out into the crowd. A packed venue makes sure to bounce, wobble, dance and superman about.

If and when you get a chance to see Matt and Kim, take it. My favorite show of the year [well tied with the Naked and Famous]. Check out my favorite video of their's "Block after Block" for just a slight taste of the excellence that is Matt and Kim. And I promise you, the more you hear and see of Oberhofer, take time to learn about them, and go see these guys in Concert. Check out their single "Away FRM U" below.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Old-school, introspective Kanye is back! This cut is from the upcoming OST for RZA's directorial debut, The Man With the Iron Fists. Sounding the most laid back he's been in years, Kanye waxes poetical over the requisite slowed-down soul sample and it couldn't sound any better if it had come out ten years ago. Paired with a globetrotting photo-journal as a video, it comes close to perfection. Enjoy your weekend!

Ok, so sometimes you literally stumble onto something awesome. I can't even begin to understand why it is so difficult for us to get music easily from overseas, nor why we haven't been introduced to Skip the Use yet, but they are worth a listen. You can pretty much only youtube them, so continue searching through the videos. Also check and download the awesome remix by Maxowl below. Friday, yeah, that's right, Friday.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

It's hard to place Ambassadors' sound. "Unconsolable" starts with moody keyboards and industrial drums (the staples for Brooklyn-based indie bands), but then the horns come in and it's transformed into something fresh and almost uplifting. The video features Girls star Zosia Mamet as she plots and executes her boyfriends' murder. Ambassadors' debut album, Litost, is out now.

Feels like: Pop Levi, the XX, Phantogram, Klaxons, The Naked and Famous

In a video that reminds me of a Shakespearian remix of "Are you afraid of the dark", the Magic Wands display an eerie world where Chris Angel, Boy George and Madonna could all happily coexist. Their sound is great though, and worth a listen [and they are native Nashvillians]. Checkout their single "Black Magic" below.

Yo Nashville is a segment in which we highlight local talent from here in Music City U.S.A.

The newest single from Australian wonderkinder Cub Scouts is a blast from our days of yore. If this doesn't remind of "Double Dare", "Gak", "Salute Your Shorts", "Dunkaroos", and "Creepy Crawlers", then you probably didn't have a childhood. Also check out "Evie" an awesome video with more of that color confetti joy that I know you were looking for.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

And the joy is back ladies and gents. Matt and Kim's latest album "Lightning" is now out and you can stream every song on their youtube channel right now! Get some great new sound to pound your eardrums with. And let's go!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Waffles. That was my previous favorite Belgian offering. Belgian waffles with a big ole dollop of whipped cream. Well I found a new Belgian favorite, Isbells. They are all the harmony and relaxation I can handle. With a big ole dollop of good. Real good. Give them a listen and tell me they aren't your new favorite Belgian treat...Even better than waffles. Unfortunately for us in the states, you won't be seeing them in concert anytime soon. Fingers crossed that they cross the pond and play on in Nashville before too long. Enjoy!